Trash or Treasure? Upcycling becomes growing green trend
Highlight at least seven (7) terms
and define
Ask at least three good questions.
Research a response to at least one
of those questions. Cite all URL’s
or resource
By Belinda Goldsmith
(Reuters) - Rather than throwing that bag or hosepipe into the recycle bin,
how about turning it into a belt or a shower curtain, joining a growing
band of upcyclers?
Upcycling refers to reusing an object in a new way without degrading the
material it is made from, as opposed to recycling which generally involves
breaking down the original material and making it into something else,
using more energy.
Supporters of the environmentally friendly practice of upcycling say
people in developing countries have effectively been upcycling for years,
using old packaging and clothing in new ways, although more out of need
than for the environment.
But upcycling is now taking off in other countries, reflecting an increased
interest in eco-friendly products, particularly ones that are priced at an
affordable level and proving profitable for the manufacturers.
"If upcycling is going to become mainstream, then the corporate world
needs to see that it can be profitable," said Albe Zakes, spokesman of U.S.
company TerraCycle which specializes in finding new uses for discarded
packaging.
A growing number of companies are focusing on upcycling although the
trend is still in its infancy with industry-wide figures yet to be produced.
Upcycling is used on a range of products including jewelry, furniture and
fashion items, such as making bracelets from old flip flops, lamps from
blenders, and turning skateboards into furniture such as chairs and
bookcases.
British company Elvis & Kresse Organization (E&KO) uses industrial
waste to make new luxury products, turning fire hoses into bags, belts,
wallets and cufflinks.
E&KO co-founder James Henrit said they avoid what they call "virgin
materials," instead opting for scrap sail cloth or furniture textiles in their
lines.
"We are very much a social enterprise, and we're hoping to change the
landscape of the luxury accessories industry by leading by example,"
Henrit told Reuters Television on the sidelines of the London Design
Festival.
A design store in Vienna in Austria called Gabarage lets customers rifle
through trash like used plastic covers, old computer chips, and discarded
X-rays and pick what they like to create their own individual bag.
All the single pieces of waste chosen are put together by the creative team
of "garbage upcycling design."
"Upcycling stands in contrast to recycling," said spokesman Daniel
Strobel. "We upvalue products innovatively, instead of just reusing them."
TerraCycle, set up in 2001 by U.S. college freshman Tom Szaky, turns
drink pouches into backpacks and cookie wrappers into pencil cases or
kites, paying schools and other groups a small amount to send them the
old packaging to be upcycled.
TerraCycle also makes a line of clocks, coasters and picture frames from
vinyl records and circuit boards, with major companies like Kraft and
General Mills sponsoring the company's waste streams.
CEO Tom Szaky, in his newly released book "Revolution in a Bottle" -that came with a returnable book cover for upcycling -- said he was
working to eliminate the idea of waste by proving all things can be reused,
recycled or upcycled.
"We upcycle waste that can't be recycled ... we love the challenge of
looking at any kind of waste and thinking of something amazing to make
from it" says Szaky. "Our products are both greener and cheaper."
(Additional reporting by Petra Spescha, Editing by Miral Fahmy)
http://www.treehugger.com/tag/upcycling/
http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/pages/upcycling.html
http://hipcycle.com/what-is-upcycling
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219310#